Washington, DC—DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz released the following statement after Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney said during a campaign appearance in Iowa today that “corporations are people, my friend.” Romney’s comment was in response to a suggestion from an audience member that large corporations should start paying their fair share. Watch the video here: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2011/08/ooops_5.php?ref=fpblg

“Mitt Romney’s comment today that ‘corporations are people’ is one more indication that Romney and the Republicans on the campaign trail and in Washington have misplaced priorities. It is a shocking admission from a candidate—and a party—that shamelessly puts forward policies to help large corporations and the wealthiest Americans at the expense of the middle class, seniors, and students. When they should be standing up for seniors, Republicans are instead protecting corporate loopholes and proposing to end Medicare as we know it. When they should be trying to help middle class families prosper, they are instead supporting policies that would slash Social Security. Mitt Romney and his fellow Republican candidates should spend a little less time fighting to protect the special interests, millionaires, and billionaires, and a lot more time standing up for the middle class, seniors, and students.”